Improvement in hog-traps



E. K. JENKINS.

HOG TRAP.

Eo.183,171. Patented 0ct.10.1878.

ATTORNEYS.

NJFETERS. FNOTO-LJTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON I; O

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIJAH K. JENKLN S, OF ELKHORN GROVE, ILLINOIS.

IM PROVEIVIENT IN HOG-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 183., 171, datedOctober 10, 1876; application filed September 9, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELIJAH KENDALL J EN-KINs, of Elkhorn Grove, county of Carroll, and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and Improved Hog-Trap, of which the following is aspecification Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improvedhog-trap, taken through the line a; m, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe same, the top cross-bar of the intermediate frame being removed toshow the gates. Fig. 3 is a front view of the upper part of the forwardend of the same.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved trap for catchingand holding hogs while ringing, castrating, and marking them, whichshall be simple in construction, convenient in use, and reliable inoperation, holding the hogs securely and without injuring them.

The invention consists in the combination of the hinged doors, theconnecting-bars, and the spring with the pen, and in the combination ofthe hinged doors, the connecting-bars, the spring, the swinging gate,the bent lever, and the strap with the pen, as hereinafter fullydescribed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is a pen, formed by attaching longitudinal bars to three uprightframes, leaving its ends and top open. The forward end of the pen A isclosed with a swinging gate, B, the lower end of which is weighted, andits upper end is pivoted to the upper part of the forward frame of thepen A. To the top bar of the forward frame of the pen A is pivoted abent lever, O, at its angle. To the short arm of the lever G is attachedthe end of a strap, D, which .is wound around, and its other end isattached to, the top bar of the said gate.

When the gate B is closed, its lower bar drops upon the inner side of across-bar, a,

attached to the floor of the pen, as shown in Fig. 1. With thisconstruction, when the gate B is closed and the lever O is operated, thefirst effect is to raise the gate clear of the bar a and then swing itslower end outward and upward. By moving the lever O in the otherdirection, the gate B will be swung downward, and will drop behind thebar a by its own weight.

To the sides of the pen A, preferably in line with the intermediateframe, are hinged the outer edges of two doors or wings, E, which aremade of such a size that their inner edges may be at such a distanceapart as to receive the neck of a hog between them, but not allow hishead to be drawn through. To the upper ends of the doors E are pivotedthe ends of two bars, F, the other ends of which are pivoted to thecenter of a spring, G, placed at the inner side of the top bar of therear frame of the pen A. The ends of the said spring are connected withthe ends of the said top bar by clevises H, or other suitable couplingsthat will allow the ends of the spring G to approach each other whensaid spring is put under tension. The doors E, when closed, rest againsta cross-bar, a attached to the posts of the intermediate frame of thepen.

In using the trap, the hogs, one at a time, are driven into the openrear end of the pen A, and, seeking to pass through it, they push backthe doors E by forcing their heads through between them, which doorsimmediately close behind their ears, so that they cannot withdraw theirheads, while the gate B prevents them from passing any farther, and theyare thus held securely.

W'hen the desired operation has been performed, the gate B is raised bythe lever O, and the hog forces open the doors E with his shoulders andpasses out of the trap. The gate B is then closed, and the trap is readyfor another hog.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the hinged doors E, theconnecting-bars F, and the spring G with the pen A, substantially asherein shown and described.

2. The combination of the hinged doors E, the connecting bars F, thespring G, the swinging gate B, the bent lever O, and the strap D withthe pen A, substantially as herein shown and described.

ELIJAH K. JENKINS.

Witnesses:

J. P. LANDON, P. MOOAULEY.

